Device for holding silks or threads



2 Sheets8heet 1.

' (No, Model.)

L. o.- SMITH. 1 i DEVICE FOR HOLDING SILKS AND THREADS.

Patented D'e0.-

INVENTOR 7 Leonard 0 'miih.

WITNESSES ATTOR N EY (no Modl.) I Q 2 Shets-Sheet 2.

- I I I L. 0.;SMITH. I

DEVICE FOR HOLDING SILKS- AND'THREADS. V No. 531,475. Patented Dec. 25,1894.

PATENT FFICE.

LEONARD OWEN SMITH, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

DEVICE FOR HOLDIN G SILK'S OR THREADS.

SPECIFICATION forming part oi Letters Patent No. 531,475, datedDecernber 25, 1894. Application filed October 6, 1894. Serial No.525,079. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEONARD OWEN SMITH, a citizen of the United States,residing in Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful v Holding Device forEmbroidery Silks or other parts hereinafter fullyset forth anddescribed.

The object of my invention is to provide a means for holding links orskeins of thread, preferably embroidery silks, which will permit thesame to be readily exhibited, which will prevent the contents frombecoming soiled, snarled or tangled, and which will, when utilized,facilitate the ready removal of one or more threadswithout disarrangingthe remaining contents.

My invention is illustrated by'the accompanying drawings, in which l IFigure 1 is a front elevation of the card, a detail of the invention.Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section of the cardshown in Fig. 1 with theskein of silk resting thereon. Fig. 3 is a frontelevation of the holder,the parts being assembled and the skein of silk in position for use.Fig.4 is a front elevation of a modification. Fig. 5 is a frontelevation of another modification, the lower portion of the case be,-ing broken away. Fig. 6 is a front elevation of a modification of theinner card. Fig. 7 is another modification of the same detail.

Similarletters apply to similar parts through,

out the several figures.

A is an outer casing or envelope open at both ends.

B is a card of preferably the same configuration but slightly smaller.The case A, is so formed that when the card B is inserted therein, itcan only be withdrawn in one direction. Upon the. card B a link or skeinof thread D', is loosely placed or wound. Toward the upper end of thecard B there is by preference formed a recess or perforation E, and inthis recess the skein of thread is placed. When the parts are assembledthe sides of the skein repose between the inner card and the outercasing so that the thread may not be soiled, tangled or snarled. Whenthe slightly exposed end of the skein has been cut, as is customary,oneor more threads may be readily extracted by exerting a gentle pull (seeFig. 3), and the remaining threads will not be disturbed by virtue ofthe frictional contact with the casing. To prevent the card B and itscontents from being withdrawn from the case A, in the direction of thepull exerted in withdrawing the separte threads, I shape the case andthe card, by preference, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, in which a gentletaper to the said parts is given, thereby making the opening in one endof the casing smaller than the opening at the opposite end. Theessential feature of my invention consists in shaping the case A so thatthe openings will be, as above referred to,one smaller than the other.Asillustrative merely of the manner in which this may be accomplishedother than that shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3,1 have submitted modifiedplans in Figs. 4 and 5.

In Fig. 4 one or both edges of the case A may approach each otherabruptly at an intermediate point in the length of said case, so thatacard B of substantially the same configuration will be prevented frombeirig with drawn therefrom excepting in one direction.

In Fig. 5, the lower edges of the case A approach each other abruptly atthe lower end of the said case thereby retaining the card B and thusaccomplishing the desired object.

In Figs'uti and 7 recesses or perforations F F of suitable shape may beprovided at the lower or narrower end of the cards B B. These recessesare particularly adapted to carry the skein when the same is being in- Iserted into the'case.

Having thus described my invention, what pendently withdrawntherethrough, substantially as described. I

2. A device for holding embroidery silks or 1 threads consisting of anelongated tapered 1o cline toward each other, said card being recessedas described, a skein of thread 1ongi tudinally disposed on said card,with an. envelope open at both ends and shaped to correspondsubstantially to the size of the said card, and surrounding the same,substantially I 5 as and for the purpose specified.

LEONARD OWEN SMITH. Witnesses:

A. RAPPENECKER, G. W. BENNER.

